The Colfax chronicle. [volume] (Colfax, Grant Parish, La.) 1877-1981, 1887-05-21

ScHttu rs u ldt HAL, VI Dlue Color,
with aquatic plants for hair. The
god has two statues at Luxor, and
was employed in binding the thrones
of the Pharoahs with the lotus and
papyrus of Upper Egypt. The Greeks
used to say it was easier to find
god than a man on the Nile
banks, and we readily imagine idols of
the beneficent deity ever present on the
shores of Father Nilus. The water was
so delicious, the old Sultan transported
it to Constantinople. Persian Kings
carried it with them for their banquets,
and a Roman general rebuked his SOL
diers for demanding wine in its pres
ence.
The rise begins at Syene, and in an
cient days the priests, in gorgeous gar
ments, with music and solemn incanta-
ton chanted their hymns, and speeded
forward the torrent rushing toward the
thirsty sands. That solemnity was the
grandest event of the year, and was
celebrated with incredible pomp. A
lovely virgin of noble birth was crowned
with garlands, and thrown into the
river, the bride Of the Nile, to insure q
plentiful inundation and generous har-
vest.
The Arab conqueror abolished the
heather sacrifice, and the river did not
rise for three months after the usual time
of increase. The people were fright
ened, and Amrou wrote to Caliph Omar
to tell what was done. and of the
threatened calamity. Omar returned
brief answers, expressing appreciation
of Amrou's action, and enclosing, in a
letter, a note to be thrown into the
Nile. 1t ran as follows: From ADD
Allah, Prince of the Faithful, to the Nile
of Egypt. If thou lowest of thine
own accord, then cease to flow; but if
it be God, the Almighty, who causeth
thee to flow. then we implore God, the
One. the mighty, to let thee fiow."
Amrou obeyed the command of the
Caliph, and 10! the river rose sixteen
cubits the following night. In Cairo
the breaking of the Nile is still cele-
brated. The dahabeeyahs are illu-
mined with lanterns and dressed with
flags. little boats fly across the twink
ling waters, and the air resounds with
melancholy hymns of women in chorus
OF song, ending in wailings any thing
but festal to our ears. In the tents on
shore are dancers, musicians. reciters,
laughter and feasting. vari-colored
lights, and dazzle of bright arms and
costume.
At midnight the men begin to work
on the dyke, and at daybreak the Khe-
dive and attendant officials, in splendid
uniforms. appear in tent overlooking
the embankment, and testify that the
Nile has reached the height for burst
ing the dyke. The testimonial is for
warded to the Sultan. The Khedive
scatters small coin in the shallow edge
Of the river, the poor dive for them in
the mud, and evil-minded and malicious
tourists say the small coin grows small |
Or, and fewer in number. every year.
There are misty legends that the |
bride OF the Nile is now represented by
waxen image of girl, blooming and |
licked in bridal robes; but could find |
no foundation in truth for the story.
Nor could learn when and where it |
vas the custom to seal mummy finger
n costly casket, and fling it an offer
ng to the god of the bursting river.
One remnant of the obsolete cere-
nony survives in the rigging of large
'oat called Akabeh by the Arabs. It is
tainted in brightest colors and illum-
ned with fiaring lamps and streamers.
lou may leave Cairo in the afternoon
m this sacred vessel, and sail to the
sic of Rhoda Cor roses), and from its
eek watch the night-long pageant.
In the rosy glow of morning rockets
nd cannon, and thunderous shouts of
lultitudes announce that the Nile has
isen.
At Rhoda, the traveller may see the
'ilometer or measurer of the overflow
"a deep well connected with the river
y subterranean canal, so the height
the water in the well is precisely that
the Nile. In the center lie an ex-
slender eight-sided pillar, on
'hich exact markings of the rise are
ept. Under twenty-four feet gives a
'ant harvest; under eighteen feet
leans famine for thousands. The six
zenith cubit indicated on the Nilometer ,
called the "Sultan's water,n the ,
nnual tax being RENTED if the river ,
ills of this height.
The visitor may go down the steps ,
did not,) and read for himself the j
cord, and find the water level. And ;
ON this exquisite isle-ah, how that /,
sautiful sight comes back to me nowl .